Steve

My specialist experience working with students with SEN to develop trusting and meaningful relationships: I have supported children in mainstream primary school settings, specialist schools and through tutoring and I have a strong record of positive outcomes for the children I work with.  I am patient, warm and I provide structured space for children to consider their emotional response to challenges.  I always do my best to tailor the learning to a child’s interests and development.

My experience teaching English and Maths (primary): I am a primary school trained teacher with several years experience adapting Maths and English to pupil’s needs.  In my role as a SENCo I identify, plan and teach Maths and English support.  Part of my current role and in previous settings has been to develop school-wide best practice from the teachers I work with and to deliver training to colleagues and the wider school community.  I am a certified Sounds-Write phonics practitioner.  I work with three families in my tutoring capacity supporting primary aged children in English and Maths.

My experience teaching children with working memory needs: I have supported many children with identified working memory needs.  My approach includes adjusting communication, supporting self-awareness of working memory challenges, empowering children with organisational and metacognitive strategies to overcome barriers to learning.  I am passionate about supporting children with working challenges and I am involved in research in this area as part of my postgraduate studies.     

My specialist experience supporting children to develop their focus and concentration skills: I have significant experience supporting children with attention and focus challenges in the classroom and at home.  My approach combines breaking lessons into achievable chunks and shaping the sessions around the child’s interests and motivations.  This may include movement breaks, breathing exercises or quick games depending on the individual.  This comes hand in hand with specific preparation and challenges to extend focus time and reflecting on success in this area.

My specialist experience providing fun sessions to help students engage in learning: I always centre learning around the child’s likes and interests and strive to include enough flexibility in the sessions to be child-led where possible.  I have been incredibly lucky to train in creative schools and work within school environments that prioritise joy in learning.  I find developing a real sense of the child’s interests is at the heart of this and developing the relationship over time.

My skills and experience supporting students to develop their independence: I have several years experience supporting children and young people with independence.  This has included supporting children in transitions to new primary schools, working with autistic teenagers gaining work skills and accessing community services and supporting children with visual impairments in day-to-day school life.  I have a range of expertise and knowledge of interventions in this area but the overarching principle is one of empowerment through gradually reducing support in the right way and providing a learning environment that develops confidence.

My specialist experience teaching students with autism: I am an autism specialist with several years experience in SEN schools.  I currently work as an Assistant SENCo in Islington supporting teachers to find the best approaches to make their classrooms inclusive and to support neurodiverse students.  In my previous role I led three teams of professionals working within an Ofsted Outstanding autism specialist school and I had my own class group for many years.  I have taught a broad range of age groups and students with differing levels of communication.  I am a strong proponent of the SCERTS framework for supporting children with autism as it has a firm backing in research based evidence and helps to focus teachers in on the key targets for their pupil’s development.  I have spent many years developing EHCP and Individual Education Plans for students with autism.

My skills and experience supporting students in collaboration with their schools: Communication is vital within my role as a SENCo and previously as a Key Stage Lead.   I work closely with teachers providing support and training to empower them and to provide the most impactful teaching approaches for their pupils.  I have previously tutored pupils outside of school where I worked with their teachers to “pre-load” the curriculum ahead of their classroom learning.  Throughout my teaching career I have sat on Multi-Disciplinary Teams and worked with families to get the best outcomes for pupils.